Hayden Panettiere’s Cardiac Arrest and Tragic Passing

Hayden Panettiere, a well-known actor from “Heroes,” tragically passed away after experiencing cardiac arrest at a South Carolina apartment complex. According to a police report obtained by NBC News, her former boyfriend, Brian Hickerson, and his brother, Zach Hickerson, were present at the scene in Judson Mill Lofts.

The incident report from the Greenville Police Department details that Officer Matthew Bryan first communicated with Zach Hickerson, who appeared very emotional during the response. Emergency medical services were attempting to revive Panettiere at that time. Brian Hickerson displayed emotions once the 36-year-old actor was pronounced deceased.

Brian Hickerson presented a “bag of medication” that Panettiere was reportedly using prior to her death. The officer noted having a body camera on during the emergency, though the footage is not publicly available yet.

Neither Brian nor Zach Hickerson responded to inquiries from NBC News following the incident. The Greenville County Coroner’s Office stated that the cause of death is under investigation, with an autopsy indicating no signs of trauma that might have contributed to Panettiere’s passing.

The authorities received a 911 call around 1:50 p.m. reporting cardiac arrest at the apartment complex. An acquaintance of Panettiere placed the call. She was found unresponsive inside the residence, reportedly staying there temporarily. Despite the first responders’ attempts at performing cardiac life support, their efforts failed, and she was declared dead at 2:32 p.m.

The relationship between Panettiere and Hickerson faced public scrutiny, particularly after 2020 when allegations of domestic violence surfaced. Panettiere disclosed some of these experiences in her memoir, “This Is Me: A Reckoning,” released three months prior to her death. She described a night of severe abuse that left her secluded for weeks.

Hickerson faced arrest on May 2, 2019, for allegedly injuring a spouse or girlfriend based on Los Angeles County court records. He pleaded no contest on April 20, 2021, resulting in a sentence of four years’ probation the following year. Panettiere sought a restraining order against him on July 14, 2020. While court records do not specify the victim, Panettiere publicly declared in 2020 her intention to prevent future harm from Hickerson.

In addition to “Heroes,” Panettiere was known for her role as a country music star on the television series “Nashville.” Her contributions to television earned her widespread recognition and admiration.